July 29, 2000 Ð Abreu Goes Near Wall
During last nightÕs 5-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu stunned coaches and teammates alike by going within three feet of Veterans StadiumÕs outfield wall. ÒIt was pretty incredible,Ó marveled manager Terry Francona afterwards. ÒYÕknow, people say BobbyÕs afraid of the wall, but I think that tonight, he showed otherwise. I mean, he damn near touched the thing.Ó
 The daring play took place with two outs in the fourth inning, when shortstop Damien Jackson laced a 2-1 Andy Ashby curveball down the right-field line. ÒWhen I saw it off the bat, I thought, ÔUh-ohÑtriple,ÕÓ said the righthander. ÒBut Bobby went right after it and dug it out of there with his foot.Ó Centerfielder Doug Glanville was also impressed by AbreuÕs fortitude. ÒUsually, IÕll have to run over and get it if itÕs anywhere near the wall,Ó he said. ÒBut this time, Bobby sort of stuck out his leg, kicked it back to himself, and got it in. It was a pretty brave way to hold [Jackson] to a double.Ó
Abreu was typically modest about the courageous act, which drew a standing ovation from the crowd of 17,891. ÒItÕs no big deal, really,Ó he insisted. ÒI might even do it again, instead of having Doug come get it. I donÕt want to be scared no more.Ó Francona, too, hoped that AbreuÕs fielding would become less timid. ÒBobbyÕs a great hitter, no doubt about itÑbut, yeah, sometimes IÕd like to see him go a little harder in the field. So what he did tonight? Definitely a step in the right direction.Ó
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December 23, 1993 Ð Ailing Lawyer Succumbs to AIDS, Audience Manipulation
33-year-old Center City lawyer Andrew Beckett yesterday succumbed to complications from battles with both AIDS and audience manipulation, according to Dr. Karen Gillman of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. ÒHe passed last night with his moist-eyed partner by his side and a delicate Howard Shore score wafting in the background,Ó she said this morning, pursing her lips. ÒWith a slight smile and the music swelling, his last words were, ÔMiguel, I'm ready.' As you would expect, it was an extremely moving scene.Ó
 Personal injury lawyer Joe Miller, who represented the ailing attorney in a melodramatic AIDS-discrimination trial, said that Beckett, despite his one-dimensional virtue, simply could not overcome the dual plagues. ÒHis sicknessÑwhich I needed to have explained to me in the most didactic manner possibleÑwas bad enough,Ó he said. ÒBut I think the audience manipulation was the straw that broke the camel's back.Ó Beckett's mother, Sarah Beckett, elaborated. ÒHis steadily-worsening condition, his collapse in the courtroom, his weakened appearance on his deathbed... it was as if his struggles were designed specifically to provoke tears,Ó she said, welling up. ÒI suppose that whoever, or whatever, was behind all of this has certainly succeeded.Ó
Despite his deeply affecting death, Beckett's friends and relatives seemed certain that his life had taught them a valuable lesson. ÒI went to Andrew's memorial service, where they played grainy Super-8 videos of him as a child,Ó said Miller, smiling thoughtfully. ÒAnd as I watched, with a sad little Neil Young song playing somewhere, I realized that, yesÑhe really was just like me.Ó Gillman agreed. ÒI think Mr. Beckett showed that, regardless of one's sexuality, or illness, we are all deserving of respect. After seeing all that he endured, that message came through loud and clear.Ó |
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